CHAPTER XVI
THE ATTACK ON THE CONSULATE
Corporal Dorlan on making the rounds of his little force shortly aftertaps noticed the Ardois lights from the _Denver_ were flashingregularly. Not being an adept signalman he sought Trumpeter Cabell, whowas trying to snatch a little sleep on the back piazza of the consulate,and shook him into wakefulness.
"Come, me lad, shake a leg, for the ship is callin' of us, and I want yeto read the message."
"Be with you in a jiffy," said Henry, going to get the lantern, which hehad already put to good use in the earlier part of the evening.
Soon he was acknowledging the call, and the message Corporal Dorlannoted down as Henry called off the letters caused the veteran many achuckle of satisfaction. It was a long message, and immediately it wasfinished Dorlan and Henry shook hands over it in great glee.
"I knew that lad would turn the trick, and come out on top," remarkedthe older man as he entered the house in search of Senor Perez.
In the center of the building was a room, which, because of pastrevolutions, the Consul had prepared against the chance of straybullets. It was but a makeshift affair, but it had served its purposeon many occasions, and during times of danger the family always occupiedit. Around the walls of this compartment rows of iron-wood railroadties were placed from the floor to ceiling and these tough nativetimbers could be counted upon to stop the leaden bullets used in theguns with which the opposing factions were generally armed. CorporalDorlan's knock at the door of the "strong room," as it was called, wasimmediately answered by the Consul.
"'Tis the 'best of news I have for ye, sir," he said, and his face shonewith delight. "Yer little daughter is safe and sound aboard the_Denver_. It seems that our drummer boy, Dick Comstock, followed themrascals what stole her, and he's just now got her away from 'em and isback on the ship. After ye give yer wife the good news I've gotsomethin' important to tell ye, and the quicker the sooner, sir." Withthat the thoughtful fellow closed the door and impatiently awaited theConsul's reappearance.
Soon the little man came out and, running up to Dorlan, he embraced themarine in true European fashion by kissing him on both cheeks, much tothe old fellow's embarrassment.
"Your good tidings have made me the happiest man in the world, whereas,but a short time since, I was the most miserable," said the Consul, andhe again threatened Dorlan with another exhibition of his enthusiasm,but this time the marine evaded it.
"That's all right, yer honor, but we can't be talkin' of that now.There's other doin's afoot this night, and with yer help we can do aneat stroke of work to cap the climax of this day's excitement."
Thereupon he outlined his plan, and an understanding having been reachedSenor Perez returned to his wife, while Dorlan made mysterious visits toeach member of his little force. He then distributed them to hissatisfaction about the house and grounds. All the lights wereextinguished except a low-burning lamp in the spacious hallway, and thenhe sat down to wait behind the closed front door, much as a cat sitsbefore the mouse hole she knows will soon be the scene of some livelyaction.
Since the end of the message from the ship not a light other than theusual anchor lights could be discerned by the closest observer on theshore. Nor could activity of any kind be noted, but as a matter of factkhaki-clad marines were even then silently embarking in one of thecutters and under muffled oars were pulling towards the landing pier.And from the opposite side of the ship three boat-loads of bluejacketswere as silently doing the same thing--but, pulling in the oppositedirection, en route to a little barrio less than three kilometers downthe coast.
General Fernando Gonzales at the head of his picket force of thirty menhalted on the beach road and looked out over the waters at the ship. Heheard the beautiful notes of the bugle sounding the soldiers and sailorsgood-night, and he saw the lights, which had been flickering at themasthead for so long, cease punctuating the darkness. With theircessation he felt reasonably certain that the crew had a feeling ofsecurity, and that they felt that everything ashore must be going well,for the big search-light was not shining as on previous nights. He didnot understand the meaning of the red and white lights, nor know thatthey were just finishing a message regarding his whereabouts at thatvery moment. Such signals were unknown in the armies of San Domingo.
Already the people of Sanchez were closing their doors and windows; soonthe streets would be deserted. Leaving his men concealed, GeneralGonzales ventured forth in the direction of the consulate for a littlepreliminary scouting. It was high time his brother and Juan Mendozawere at the rendezvous, but their non-arrival caused him no greatuneasiness. The street before the Consul's home was also deserted, andhe approached the place boldly. As he passed the gate the lights in thehouse were turned out,--the family of Senor Perez had retired. A fewyards beyond the last few members of the Club were closing the door andleaving for their homes. He decided to wait no longer. Calling hismen, he soon stationed them in the hedge and shrubbery surrounding theconsulate, then with his chosen half dozen villains he approached thefront entrance and mounting the broad piazza he knocked loudly. Finallythe door opened a few inches and the face of Senor Perez appeared.
"Who are you, and what do you want at this hour of the night?" said theConsul in a voice he tried hard to control.
"I wish to talk with you, Senor, on a matter of great importance to usboth. Let me in."
"Who are you?" again came in inquiry, though the father knew well thatthis was the man who had caused him so much heartache that day.
"I am General Fernando Gonzales, and if you do not admit me withoutfurther talk I will shoot you," and a long-barreled revolver was shovedominously through the opening into the face of the consul, who fell backinto the dimly lighted hall. In a moment the General and six followersrushed in, well pleased over the success of their operations thus far.
Was it a sudden draft of wind which closed the door so softly behindthem? Gonzales never had time nor thought to inquire, for suddenly thelarge room became a blaze of light, and he found himself staring intothe leveled muzzles of six gun barrels in the hands of Dorlan's men.
"Hands up, ye spalpeens!" called out the voice of the Corporal, andthough not a man there understood his words they did understand themenace in the voice, and in a twinkling there were fourteen dirty brownand black hands held tremblingly aloft.
"HANDS UP!"]
"Take them guns and knives, and throw them in the corner, me lad," nowordered Dorlan, and Henry began to disarm the rebels. It was then thatthe leader Gonzales, knowing what would be his fate if he were turnedover to the government troops, made a break for liberty.
Although he put up his hands with the rest he still held in his righthand the revolver he had carried on entering. Now with a wild yell thenegro half-breed fired one shot into the air, another in the generaldirection of the Consul, and as he dashed for a window near by he firedthe remaining four shots at the marines lined up across the hall. Onreaching the window he unhesitatingly jumped through the flimsy latticework which guarded it, and was running across the lawn before the house.
The sudden attack of the negro so surprised most of the marines, whowere not looking for any active resistance after the men had thrown uptheir hands, that there was an appreciable moment of inactivity whichheld back their fire. But not so with Henry, for with the first shot ofthe rebel chief, the trumpeter had pulled his automatic from theholster, and as Gonzales jumped through the window he fired two shots.
One of those bullets found a resting place in the fleshy part of thenative's leg. The impetus of Gonzales' rush carried him on, but now hestumbled and called upon his followers hidden in the bushes to come tohis assistance. Again he stumbled, this time falling headlong into aflower bed. As he attempted to rise, a figure in khaki rose in front ofhim; there was the flash of a clubbed rifle, then the weapon descendedwith crushing force on the general's skull, and he sank to the ground.The days of Gene
ral Fernando Gonzales as a rebel chief were ended.
From all sides came a fusillade of shots. The bullets tore their waythrough wooden walls or spattered on the tin roof of the building, butharmed no one. From the fort on the hill came the sound of high pitchedbugles sounding the alarm, while flashes of light and the sound of gunsshowed the government troops were as usual wasting ammunition by firingat nothing in particular and everything in general.
Then a red star shot up from the main road a little to the west of theconsulate; there came a rush of heavy shoes on the macadam, a rattle ofaccoutrements, and First Sergeant Douglass at the head of the remainderof the _Denver's_ guard charged down the road. Again the search-lightof the ship flooded the shore and then, without waiting to see what hadbefallen their leader, the rebels took to their heels and fled.
It was daylight before the excitement in the town subsided, but by thenit was known that the hold of the rebels over the inhabitants waseffectually broken. The General was dead, his brother, his lieutenant,Juan Mendoza, and the six others were turned over to the custody of theFederal troops. As for those rebels in camp at the barrio, they too hadbeen dispersed, for when the landing party of sailors, guided by Dick,reached the shore near the barrio and demanded the surrender of thedeserter Choiniski they fled incontinently, fearing an attack from theAmericanos, which they did not relish.
When a search of the barrio and the hut in the grove was made it wasfound that Joe had either taken the opportunity to escape or the rebelshad taken him with them into the hills, for the place was deserted. Theonly persons remaining behind were the native boy Columbus, his crippledfather and his mother. On learning how well the urchin had assistedDick, and how the rebels had treated the poor peons, a very substantialpurse was collected by the kind-hearted men and presented to the lad'smother, and the landing party was then towed back to the ship.
It was Dick Comstock's privilege to escort little Soledad ashore at anhour shortly after sunrise, and though Senor Perez was too much overcometo thank the rescuer of his favorite, Dick felt fully rewarded just towitness that joyful reunion.
Reports now began coming in from all points that the revolution wastoppling, and soon those who were still under arms were pleading to beallowed to surrender and go to their homes and former occupations.Orders also came for the _Denver_ to leave Sanchez and proceed on asurveying trip near the border line dividing San Domingo and Haiti, andincidentally to watch for some smuggling reported to be carried onextensively in that vicinity.
The day of departure arrived. In the afternoon a shore boat camealongside carrying Senor Perez, his wife, children and the governess.Captain Bentley met the party at the gangway, and after a few words hegave orders that the crew be assembled aft. When all had gathered therein the shade of the awnings, Captain Bentley stepped forward and calledfor Richard Comstock of the United States Marine Corps to come to themast. Then in behalf of the Consul, his family and the governess, theCaptain presented the drummer boy with a beautiful gold wrist watch,appropriately engraved, which the grateful donors had ordered by cablefrom New York City and which the Clyde Liner had but that morningdelivered.
Dick felt that he should make some reply, but for the life of him he wasunable to utter a single word. Suddenly there was a patter of light feeton the white deck and to his relief Soledad rushed forward. As he bentto take the child's hand, she threw her arms around his neck and kissedhim squarely on the lips. The look of amazement now on Dick's face wasso great that the entire assembly roared with laughter, and ChiefMaster-at-Arms Fitch, regulations to the contrary notwithstanding,called out:
"Three cheers for our Drummer Boy and the girls he rescued."
They were given with a will, for now there was no longer doubt as to theloyalty, faithfulness or bravery of Richard Comstock.